Benjamin Kalu

Benjamin Okezie Kalu, is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since 2023. He represents the Bende Federal Constituency.

Life, Education and Political Career
Benjamin Okezie Kalu was born on May 5, 1971 in Agbamuzu, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. He holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, a Master of Law in Terrorism and International Humanitarian Law (Distinction), and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar. Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his studies at the Nigeria Law School in Enugu State, Nigeria.

In addition to his formal education, Kalu has obtained several certifications in Migration and Human Rights from John Cabot University, Italy, Illicit Trade from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, Governance and Development from Miami Herbert Business School, Miami University, USA, Environmental Crimes from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy and International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB) at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Kalu's political career began in 2002 when he contested for the House of Representatives primaries. He served as the Local Government Chairman (Transition) for Bende Local Government Area, Abia State and held various advisory roles to the then Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu. He has also served as the National Chapter President of the Peoples Democracy Party in Diaspora, the youngest Local Government Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, and Senior Special Adviser to Theodore Orji on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Nigeria.

In 2011 and 2015, he contested for the House of Representatives elections, representing Progressive Peoples Alliance at that time, but lost in both elections. On 23 February 2019, Kalu, representing the ruling All Progressives Congress defeated Chima Anyaso of the People's Democratic Party and won the seat to represent Bende federal constituency, Abia State in the House of Representatives. He received 9,138 votes, while Anyaso received 5,591 votes. Anyaso rejected the result of the election and challenged the victory of Kalu in the National and State Assembly Election Petitions tribunal, citing irregularities in the election. On 29 August 2019, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking merit and upheld the election of Kalu. After losing at the tribunal, Anyaso appealed the case at the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division. On 28 October 2019, the Appeal court upheld Kalu's election.

He was re-elected in 2023 and he is currently the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. His roles in the 10th Assembly include Chairman of the Constitution Review and Amendment Committee.

Legislative Activities
As the Spokesperson of the 9th Assembly, Kalu proposed and supported various bills, motions, and acts, including the Acts Authentication Act and the Nigerian Communications Act. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on the review of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

Projects
Kalu is the convener of the Peace in the South East Project (PISE), which aims to use non-kinetic means to resolve insecurity in the South East Region of Nigeria. He also led the Sudan Darfur Project in Australia for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, focusing on fundraising and providing orientation for refugees.

He is also the founder of the Benjamin Kalu Foundation, a charity organization.

Personal life
Benjamin Okezie Kalu is married and has five children. He hails from Bende, Abia State, Nigeria.

Awards and Recognition

 * Valuable Parliamentarian by OrderPaper
 * Outstanding Representative Member of the Year at the Democracy Heroes Award Africa
 * 2021 Zik's Award of Excellence on Civic Engagement
 * South East and Abia State Federal Lawmaker of the Year Award by Independent Newspaper
 * Outstanding Legislative Contribution Award towards Improving Tuberculosis policy and Funding in Nigeria
 * Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards
 * 2019 Humanitarian Service Award
 * FLO FM Icon Award as the Most Impactful Lawmaker of the Year
 * Model of Media and Public Relation Matters Award

Membership

 * Member of the African Union Pan African Parliament, serving under the Finance and Admin Committee
 * Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, serving as the Chairman of the Finance, Administration and Budget Committee
 * Fellow of OSHAssociation United Kingdom
 * Fellow of the Chartered Institute of International Arbitrators (CIARB UK)
 * Member of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)
 * Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Managers (F.Inst.AM)